Alec Word, a recent graduate from the University of Southern California (USC), had an unforgettable December that went beyond the usual academic achievements. Celebrating his degree in Business Administration and Finance, Alec found himself in the sports card limelight with not one, but two remarkable pulls of rare MLB Debut Patch autograph cards, cementing his status as one of the luckiest collectors in the hobby.
It all began on Saturday, December 7th, when Alec made his inaugural visit to Jaspy’s Sports Cards & Collectibles. While leisurely opening packs of the 2024 Topps Update Jumbo series in-store, Alec stumbled upon a treasure trove: the 1/1 MLB Debut Patch autograph redemption for Baltimore Orioles’ All-Star, Jordan Westburg.
Initially taken aback, Alec shared, “I didn’t realize what it was at first. The shop’s reaction clued me in—they were going crazy.” Maren Jaspersen, the co-owner of Jaspy’s, fondly recalled the excitement, stating, “We were all absolutely thrilled for him! It was his first visit to our shop, and he walks away with a massive hit.”
The MLB Debut Patch autograph cards, introduced in 2023 Topps products, are highly sought-after in the collector’s world. Each card showcases a unique patch from a player’s jersey during their MLB debut, combined with their autograph. With only one card in existence for each player, these cards are considered valuable treasures.
At the time of Alec’s discovery, about 60% of the 2024 Topps Debut Patch cards had already been accounted for by avid collectors, making his find even more extraordinary.
But Alec’s stroke of luck didn’t stop there.
On Tuesday, December 10th, he made a return trip to Jaspy’s and purchased Breaker’s Delight boxes, known for their enhanced odds of low-numbered cards. Excitedly opening them at home on FaceTime with friends, Alec struck gold once more—this time scoring the live MLB Debut Patch autograph card for Jose Ferrer.
Overwhelmed with joy, Alec expressed, “I couldn’t believe it. I started running around the house, yelling. It was unreal.” Alec’s return to collecting was initially sparked during the pandemic as a way to bond with his brother, who is currently recuperating from back surgery. “It’s something fun we can do together,” Alec remarked.
While Alec decided to sell the Westburg card to an Orioles supercollector, he plans to hold onto the Ferrer card for his personal collection.
Maren from Jaspy’s aptly summarized the situation, saying, “We couldn’t believe his luck. To pull two cards like that in just a few days—it’s what makes the hobby so exciting.” Armed with a degree from USC’s Marshall School of Business and a profound love for sports, Alec aspires to merge his passions into a future career within the sports industry. Whether he’s making big waves in the card collecting realm or chasing his professional dreams, Alec’s December will undoubtedly be a chapter to be remembered.
